Fatty acid synthesis in intestinal mucosa of guinea pig.

1. Acetate-CoA ligase, acetyl-CoA-carbon dioxide ligase and fatty acid synthetase were shown to be present in particle-free fractions of guinea-pig intestinal mucosa. 2. Each of these enzymes was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation from the particle-free supernatant. 3. The incorporation of acetate and citrate into fatty acid was measured. 4. Gas-liquid radiochromatography was used to investigate the pattern of fatty acids synthesized. 5. The rate-limiting step in fatty acid synthesis was shown to be acetyl-CoA-carbon dioxide ligase.